Superman (arcade game)

Superman is a 1988 arcade action game released by Taito and featuring the DC Comics character Superman. While not directly based on the original film series, throughout much of the game the "Superman Main Theme" and "Can You Read My Mind" from the Superman films are used as background music.

For other Superman video games, see List of Superman video games.
Superman
Developer(s)Taito
Publisher(s)Taito
Director(s)Toshiyuki Nishimura
Designer(s)Hidehiro Fujiwara
Programmer(s)Hideaki Tomioka
Hideki Hashimoto
Mari Iwano
Artist(s)Akira Saito
Junji Yarita
Minori Ishino
Composer(s)Kazuyuki Ōnui
Masahiko Takaki
Shizuo Aizawa
SeriesSuperman
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
Genre(s)Beat 'em up, shoot 'em up
Mode(s)
Arcade systemTaito X System

In the game, the player assumes the role of Superman, who must fight through five levels to make the world safe from the evil Emperor Zaas, a character exclusive to this game. The game can be played by up to two players simultaneously, with the second player taking control of another Superman with a different colored costume.

Gameplay
Superman faces a boss during the vertically scrolling part of game's first level.

The player takes control of Superman, who must fight through five levels to make the world safe from the evil Emperor Zaas, a villain similar to Brainiac. The first player takes control of the traditional blue Superman, while the second player takes control of a red Superman with a grey cape.[2] The title starts out in Metropolis before going to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. Superman is able to punch, kick and fly. He can also use a projectile "Sonic Blast" attack when the player holds down then releases the punch button. There are also objects in the levels he can throw and/or break. Some of these objects release blue crystals that can restore Superman's energy, yellow crystals that allow the player to throw one projectile attack without charging or red crystals in flying stages that defeat all the enemies on the screen.[3] The first four levels have three-parts - a side-scrolling part, followed by a vertically scrolling flying part and a final side-scrolling shooter part where Superman uses heat vision instead of kicking and can destroy or dodge obstacles such as rocks. Each part has a boss at the end. The final level, the main boss' spaceship, adds a side-scrolling shooting section to the beginning and an extra final boss fight at the end.

Second player

The second player's Superman is identical to the first player's blue Superman, except for the color scheme. Whereas the first player controls Superman in his traditional color scheme at the time (blue tights with a red cape, pants and boots), the second Superman wears red tights with grey cape, pants and boots. The presence of this alternate Superman is never explained in the game and is only intended as a co-operative gameplay mechanic. The color scheme for the second Superman is highly suggestive of Captain Marvel, particularly due to the red bodysuit, yellow and grey chest emblem and grey cape. A red Superman appears in an imaginary story in Superman (vol. 1) #162 titled "The Amazing Story of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue!".[2][4] Unused sprites from the game show what may be an alternate, female second player created for the game.[5]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Superman on their March 15, 1989 issue as being the fifth most-successful table arcade unit of the year.[6] Superman for the arcade was met with mixed reception from reviewers since its release.[7] Computer and Video Games gave the game a positive outlook.[8] Your Sinclair's Ciarán Brennan gave the title an overall negative outlook.[9] ACE gave it a mixed outlook.[10] The Games Machine's Robin Hogg also gave it an overall mixed outlook.[11] AllGame's Brad Cook gave it a two out of five stars rating.[12]

References
  1. Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006). タイトー (Taito); Taito America; S. アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005) (in Japanese) (1st ed.). Amusement News Agency. pp. 43, 137, 166. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  2. "The Killer List of Videogames: Superman". Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  3. "Arcade Flyers: Superman". Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  4. "Legion of Super-Heroes". Retrieved July 20, 2006.
  5. "Scrollboss: Comic based game sprites". Retrieved July 20, 2006.
  6. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 352. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 March 1989. p. 21.
  7. Caswell, Mark (April 1989). "Arcades - Superman (Taito)". Crash. No. 63. Newsfield Publications. p. 28.
  8. "Arcade Action - Superman". Computer and Video Games. No. 85. EMAP. November 1988. p. 140.
  9. Brennan, Ciarán (December 1988). "Slots Of Fun - Superman (Taito)". Your Sinclair. No. 36. Dennis Publishing. p. 103.
  10. "Arcade Ace: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's... Superman! (Taito 30p)". ACE. No. 18. Future Publishing. March 1989. pp. 29–30.
  11. Hogg, Robin (March 1989). "Confrontation: Coin-Op - Superman". The Games Machine. No. 16. Newsfield Publications. p. 70.
  12. Cook, Brad (1998). "Superman (Arcade) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-11-16. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
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